Apparatus for driving and releasing a support on which a band or filament of material is to be wound

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for drivingly engaging and disengaging a hollow support on which a band or filament of material is wound comprising a fixed arm member, a rotatable member mounted on the fixed member and adapted for being driven in rotation and a ring member mounted on the rotatable member and positionable within the hollow support. The rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride. An electromagnet is selectively energized either to produce relative axial movement between the rotatable member and the ring member to cause the ring member to ride up on the conical surface of the rotatable member so as to be in driving relation with the rotatable member and with the support to establish a drive connection for said support, or to lower the ring member down on the conical surface of the rotatable member and be decoupled from the rotatable member and disengaged from the support.

United States Patent 91 Cadillon [451 Feb. 25, 1975 Verlaine, Villeurbanne/Rhone, France [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 406,399

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner--Edward J. McCarthy ABSTRACT Apparatus for drivingly engaging and disengaging a hollow support on which a band or filament of material is wound comprising a fixed arm member, a rotatable member mounted on the fixed member and adapted for being driven in rotation and a ring member mounted on the rotatable member and positionable within the hollow support. The rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride. An electromagnet is selectively Feb. 26, 1973 France 73.07230 energized either to produce relative axial movement June 8, 1973 France 73.21577 between the rotatable member and the ring member to cause the ring member to ride up on the conical [52] US. Cl. 242/682, 242/721 Surface of the rotatable member so as to be in driving [51] Int. Cl K651i 17/02 relation with the rotatable member and with the [58] Flew of Search 242/682 279/2 port to establish a drive connection for said support,

or to lower the ring member down on the conical sur- [56] References cued face of the rotatable member and be decoupled from UNITED STATES PATENTS the rotatable member and disengaged from the sup- 2,566,629 9/1951 Paxson 242/72.1 P 2,598,398 5/1952 Littell 3,244,380 4/1966 Hoyne 242/72.1 14 Clam, 5 D'awmg Flgures I 9 \M f 3h APPARATUS FOR DRIVING AND RELEASING A SUPPORT ON WHICH A BAND OR FILAMENT OF MATERIAL IS TO BE WOUND BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to apparatus for the instantaneous drive and release of a support on which is wound material in the form of a band or filament.

2. Prior Art:

Various means are known for drivingly engaging, without slippage, the supports of rolled materials.

These supports are, in general, bobbins, flasks or rollers which can be provided with means such as teeth, pins, or other projections for driving without slipping.

These arrangements sometimes produce deficiencies after connection to the drive members of the machine such as blockage of the support on the drive members, wear of the support, and great difficulty in demounting. Often it is necessary to destroy the support, which is neither rational nor economical. Mainly, the time taken to demount adversely affects the output of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide apparatus which avoids these deficiencies and particularly which assures a sure and instantaneous driving engagement of the support and an easy rapid disengagement without any alteration of the support.

To this effect the apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises a freely rotatable assembly mounted on a fixed arm, which assembly is capable of being driven by any suitable drive means, said assembly comprising an electromagnet capable of displacing a movable ring which by expansion engages in driving relation a support for material wound thereon.

According to another embodiment, the apparatus is simplified by eliminating the need for contact means between the fixed arm and the rotating assemblycarrying the electromagnet.

For this purpose the electromagnet is in the fixed arm and acts to attract the movable ring of the rotating assembly to cause retreat of the ring and disengagement from the support of the material, and at the time of de energization of the electromagnet an elastic means acts on the assembly to cause expansion of the ring and engagement with the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention in a disengaged position with respect to a support of material;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

Flg. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified apparatus in an engaged position with the support; and

FIG. 5 illustrates in section another embodiment of the invention showing both the engaged and disengaged positions for the drive of the support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises an axle l fixedly mounted on a fixed arm 2, and an electromagnet assembly 3 is freely mounted on axle l by a bearing 4. The electromagnet assembly is composed of an interior ring 3a rotatable about its axis on the bearing 4 and an exterior ring 3b forming an annular space 30 or pole gap with ring 3a, extending over a portion of its width, a coil 3d being placed in a cavity 3e in the remainder of the width between the two rings.

The coil 3d is electrically coupled with conductive rings 5 embedded in the ring 3b and the rings 5 project at the rear surface of ring 3b for contacting electrical contacts 6 secured in the fixed arm and coupled electrically to a suitable control means.

The exterior ring 3b is provided at its periphery, adjacent the arm 2, with a suitable means for driving the electromagnet assembly in rotation. Such driving means can be integral with or connected to ring 3b. In FIG. 1 such means is constituted by a groove 3f receiving a trapezoidal drive belt 7 and in FIG. 4 this means is constituted by teeth 3g which can cooperate with a drive chain.

Ring 3b is formed with a conical bearing surface 3h extending away from the driving means, and mounted on bearing surface 3h is a ring 8 having a conical bore 8d corresponding to surface 3h. The ring 8 is axially limited in translation movement to the right by any suitable abutment means such as circlips 9.

The ring 8 can be made as a one-piece element or in a plurality of connected parts connected together by any suitable conventional assembly system.

When the ring 8 is made of one-piece it is so dimensioned to be seated with play on ring 3b when it bears against circlips 9, and in this position it is disengaged from a support A on which a band or filamentary material is wound therearound. Hence, the ring 8 is radially retracted to an inwardly spaced position within the support A. When the electromagnet is energized the magnetic flux attracts the ring 8 (which is made of a suitable magnetically attracted material) which then rides up on the conical bearing surface 3h until it tightly engages the support A in driving relation. In this condition, if the electromagnet assembly is driven in rotation, it will carry the support A and the material wound thereon therewith.

Preferably, the ring 8 is composed of a plurality of parts 8a, 8b, 8c elastically coupled together. For example, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the parts 8a, 8b, 8c are segments coupled by a steel spring 10 formed as a lamina and lodged in grooves 8e in the ring parts. The spring 10 is attached at its bent extremities, in cavities 8f in one of the parts in the ring, e.g., part 8b in FIG. 2.

It is also possible to lodge in the groove 8e a coil spring 11 whose ends are secured to lugs 12 fixed in the groove of one of the ring parts e.g. part 8b as shown in FIG. 3.

Any other suitable elastic means can be employed without departing from the invention.

With these arrangements, the conical bore 8d of the ring 8 will be in uniform contact with the conical bearing surface 3h and in abutment with circlips 9 when the electromagnet is deenergized and the spring means will be relaxed. This is the disengaged position of support A.

At the time of energization of the electromagnet, the magnetic flux attracts the ring 8 which expands and as cends conical bearing 3b, to engage the support A in driving relation. Upon deenergization of the electromagnet, the spring will urge the parts 80, 8b, BC, together and cause them to descend on surface 3h to the circlips 9 in disengaged position with support A.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the appara tus comprises a fixed support 13 supporting an axle 13a on which is mounted a rotatable assembly essentially composed of member 14, flange 15 and movable ring 16 enclosed between member 14 and flange 15.

The member 14 can be externally driven in any suitable manner as, for example, by belt 19 engaged in groove 14a 'as shown. Alternative drives include a toothed wheel and chain, as for example, shown in FIG. 4. The member 14 has a conical projection 14b engaged in a conical bore 16a of the movable ring 16. The ring 16 is preferably composed of at least three parts coupled together by a suitable elastic means allowing its expansion and contraction as explained previously with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3.

An electromagnet 20 is lodged in an annular groove 13b in the fixed support 13 and is electrically coupled via leads 21 to a suitable control means for its selective energization.

When the electromagnet 20 is energized, the member 14 (which is made of magnetically attractable material) is attracted towards the fixed support 13. An elastic means is interposed between member 14 and fixed support 13 and the elastic means comprises a plurality of elastic steel discs 22 mounted in a recess in support 13 to face member 14. When the member 14 compresses discs 22, the ring 16 is at the lower diameter portion of the conical surface 14b and occupies a disengaged position with respect to support 23 under the action of its own elastic connection means between its segments. The support 23' is therefore free and disengaged.

When the electromagnet 20 is deenergized, the discs 22 thrust the member 14 to the right in FIG. 5 which causes the ring 16 to ride up on conical surface 14b thereby producing diametric expansion of the ring 16, which now tightly engages the support 23 in driving relation.

Thereis thus obtained the same effect as in the previous embodiments following the same principle of employing only the effect of the electromagnet to cause expansion and contraction of the driving member and consequent engagement and disengagement of the support.

However, the FIG. 5 embodiment eliminates the electrical contacts and chafing rings and provides a great simplification of the apparatus and facilitates its manufacture.

Numerous variations can be made within the framework of the invention. For example, the size and the number of windings of the coil of the electromagnet can be varied for modifying the attractive force depending, for example, on the composition of the material, e.g., plastic, fabric, cardboard, metallic filaments, to be rolled or unrolled.

It is also possible to mount a series of apparatuses each on a fixed arm, and to provide a control button for each arm, in such manner to constitute a positive connection, for example, of all the electromagnets being in circuit for the functioning machine, the control being assured by the feed of the electromagnets.

The applications of the apparatus are numerous, for example, in machines for rolling, unrolling, cutting, margining machines (cutting of magnetic tape bands) coating machines etc.

The advantages are evident from the description of the various embodiments, and particular emphasis is made on the instantaneous drive and release of the material, the better utilization and functioning of the machine with less stoppage, and the minimization of deterioration or destruction of the. supports of the material.

The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and numerous variations and modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7 a

What is claimed is:

L Apparatus for drivingly engaging and disengaging a hollow support on which is wound a band or filament of material, said apparatus comprising a fixed arm member, a rotatable member mounted on the fixed member, means for driving the rotatable member in rotation, a ring member mounted on said rotatable member and positionable within the hollow support, and electromagnetic means supported by one of said members and active on another of said members for (a) en-. gaging the ring member in driving relation with the rotatable member and with the support to establish a drive connection for said support and (b) decoupling the ring member from the rotatable member and disengaging said ring member from the support.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member comprises an inner second ring member and an outer third ring'member formed with a gap constituting a pole gap. said electromagnetic means I comprising a coil coupled to the inner and outer ring members.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride, said electromag-. netic means being positioned to produce relative axial movement between the rotatable member and the ring member to advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member to establish said drive connection for the support and to be lowered down on the conical surface of the rotatable member to disengage the drive connection with the support.

the rotatable member, said ring member when in.

contactwith the abutment means being disengaged from said support, said electromagnetic means then i being deenergized and said elastic means relaxed.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sectors are provided with circumferentially aligned grooves, and said elastic means comprises an elastic member engaged in the grooves of the sectors and having ends secured in one of said sectors.

8. Apparatusas claimed in claim 3 wherein said ring member is constructed of one-piece and is loosely engaged on the rotatable member when in disengaged position with the support.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising bearing means between said inner ring member and said fixed arm member to permit rotation of the inner ring member with respect to said fixed arm member.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic means is mounted on said fixed member and acts on said rotatable member to decouple the rotatable member and ring member when the electromagnetic means is energized and to couple the rotatable member and drive member when the electromagnetic means is deenergized.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim wherein said rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride, said electromagnetic means being positioned to produce relative axial movement between the rotatable member and the ring member to advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member to establish said drive connection for the support and to be lowered '6 down on the conical surface of the rotatable member to disengage the drive connection with the support.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said ring member comprises a plurality of sectors mounted on the rotatable member, and elastic means coupling said sectors together and allowing expansion and contraction of the ring member.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 comprising rotatable abutment means facing the rotatable member, said ring member being interposed between the abutment means and the rotatable member and being limited by said abutment means in axial displacement down the conical surface of the rotatable member.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprising elastic means carried by said fixed member to apply thrust to said rotatable member and advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member when the electromagnet is deenergized. 

1. Apparatus for drivingly engaging and disengaging a hollow support on which is wound a band or filament of material, said apparatus compRising a fixed arm member, a rotatable member mounted on the fixed member, means for driving the rotatable member in rotation, a ring member mounted on said rotatable member and positionable within the hollow support, and electromagnetic means supported by one of said members and active on another of said members for (a) engaging the ring member in driving relation with the rotatable member and with the support to establish a drive connection for said support and (b) decoupling the ring member from the rotatable member and disengaging said ring member from the support.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member comprises an inner second ring member and an outer third ring member formed with a gap constituting a pole gap, said electromagnetic means comprising a coil coupled to the inner and outer ring members.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride, said electromagnetic means being positioned to produce relative axial movement between the rotatable member and the ring member to advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member to establish said drive connection for the support and to be lowered down on the conical surface of the rotatable member to disengage the drive connection with the support.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ring member is radially expandable as it advances up on the rotatable member.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said ring member comprises a plurality of sectors mounted on the rotatable member, and elastic means coupling said sectors together and allowing expansion and contraction of the ring member.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising abutment means on the rotatable member limiting axial travel of the ring downwardly on the conical surface of the rotatable member, said ring member when in contact with the abutment means being disengaged from said support, said electromagnetic means then being deenergized and said elastic means relaxed.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sectors are provided with circumferentially aligned grooves, and said elastic means comprises an elastic member engaged in the grooves of the sectors and having ends secured in one of said sectors.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ring member is constructed of one-piece and is loosely engaged on the rotatable member when in disengaged position with the support.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising bearing means between said inner ring member and said fixed arm member to permit rotation of the inner ring member with respect to said fixed arm member.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic means is mounted on said fixed member and acts on said rotatable member to decouple the rotatable member and ring member when the electromagnetic means is energized and to couple the rotatable member and drive member when the electromagnetic means is deenergized.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rotatable member and ring member have conical surfaces on which the ring member can ride, said electromagnetic means being positioned to produce relative axial movement between the rotatable member and the ring member to advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member to establish said drive connection for the support and to be lowered down on the conical surface of the rotatable member to disengage the drive connection with the support.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said ring member comprises a plurality of sectors mounted on the rotatable member, and elastic means coupling said sectors together and allowing expansion and contraction of the ring member.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 comprising rotatable abutment means facing the rotatable member, said ring member being interposed between the abutment means and the rotatable member and being limited by said abutment means in axial displacement down the conical surface of the rotatable member.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprising elastic means carried by said fixed member to apply thrust to said rotatable member and advance the ring member up on the conical surface of the rotatable member when the electromagnet is deenergized. 